December 2 Advent Gratitude

Today I took this sweatshirt to the post office to mail to my sister in California. My friend Manjeet stopped by and we walked a couple of times around the park before heading to the shops on the other side. Most of the trees are now bare but one maple near the pond retained a few red and yellow leaves lighting up with colour in a brown landscape.

I have lived in this neighbourhood for more than twenty years and walked through the park hundreds of times. I see versions of myself coming and going, walking on layers of time. But these last months have shown that attention can yield new beauty, new gifts.

Today I am grateful to live in a familiar place that can still feel new.